Magdy Samuel

Serialized Articles From:
"Whom shall I fear"

Last Published Devotions

Chapter 1: 4

Third Fear:  War of Satan
“Blowing of the
Wind

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

 

The house was not only subjected to the downpour of rains and the flooding of the rivers, but there was also a strong wind blowing from each side.  This is a reference to organized spiritual warfare.  Satan is the source of this third fear, whom the Bible described as the ruler of this world, the god of this age, the prince of the power of the air. He leads an organized army against us, with leaders and authorities and rulers and soldiers, and rouses an ongoing and fierce war against us, directing his evil, flaming malicious burning arrows at our thoughts and minds and feelings and emotions, causing us to fear and tremble.


 
The Bible also describes our enemy as a lion roaring around us to terrify us, who wanders tirelessly never weary, to find an opportunity to devour us.  “… Because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8).

 

This war is primarily an intellectual war. “…for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)  And also:  “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (Corinthians 10:4-6)

 

From the beginning of human history, the devil was able to target the thoughts and the heart of Eve with his evil arrows, saying:  “Has God indeed said…?” (Genesis 3: 1).  He always uses weapons of doubt and intimidation to lead people to fall.


The Psalm of David refers to this army and that war, saying “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.”  This army will never stop coming against us and fighting, and this war will not end until the coming of Christ, when He crushes Satan under our feet very soon (Romans 16:20).

 


Example from the Bible
The Disciples in the Boat (Mark 4)


Satan was able to shake the disciples’ peace of pupils, even though the Prince of Peace with them in the boat! 

He did this in two ways:  The first was to blow up the frightening winds.  Satan (the prince of the power of the air) blew up a strong wind on the lake. The waves rose, striking the ship, bringing them into danger.

The second tactic was to stir up terrifying thoughts. The wind alone was not able to rob them of their peace and joy, for their Master was with them and didn’t leave them. But the devil (we are not unaware of his schemes), was able to turn their minds away from the simplicity of faith in Christ, and target their minds with burning arrows of thoughts, such as:

1 – Thoughts of terror and dread (that they would surely perish), even though the Lord promised that they would cross to the other side.
2 – Thoughts of doubt in the Lord's love and care (“Do You not care?”).
3 – Thoughts of doubt in the Lord’s ability and His authority (“We are perishing”).

And thus, he was able to undermine their peace.

In the same way, dear brother, the devil and his soldiers stir up circumstances around us, and thoughts inside us, causing us to doubt the Lord’s presence with us, His love and goodness towards us, and His ability and authority over our circumstances.  Therefore we are frightened and tremble.

Therefore, when the Lord arose, He rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!”  And He rebuked the thoughts inside them saying, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4: 39, 40).

So what does a poor man do in the face of…
   the floods of divine judgment that is surely coming? 
   the mounting waves of turmoil of the world around him? 
   the seething satanic whirlwinds that never subside? 

When he looks up, he finds the heavens thundering
When he looks around, he finds the wind storms raging
When he looks beneath, he finds the waves pitching.

And he cries out, saying:  
   Is there deliverance? 
   Is there safety? 
   Is there peace? 
   Where is the escape? 
   Where can I go to be sheltered?

Here the divine answer comes to him:
”The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”  (Proverbs 18:10)


Satan stirs up circumstances around us and thoughts inside us, so that we may lose our peace

Magdy Samuel